The Nature has provided us countless bounties … some we understand of and some that are still hidden in the deep mysteries waiting to be revealed and waiting to enhance our lives. One of these bounties is Jatropha, the physic nut. It is among the most popular herbs and the term jatropha curcas is in fact a “genus” covering some 175 plants together. The name comes from Greek words for Iatros implying physician and trophe significance nutrition. So physic nuts or Jatropha, from the kingdom plantae is being studied for it can be put to many uses in our every day lives.

To start with, Jatropha is discovering excellent approval all over the world as a bio-doesel. The jatropha curcas seeds can be crushed to get the oil and this can be used as a bio-fuel. The residues can be utilized as fertilizer or as a feed for electricity creating plants. And this permits a sustainable advancement. Not just the seeds, but the plant as a whole is well matched to satisfy the growing environmental issues. And why just the bio-diesel, it can be utilized as aviation fuel, car fuel and a host of other usages from other parts of the plants. The stems of this plant discover usages in basket making, ornamental functions, and tanning leather and getting dyes. The plant even discovers use in medicines for cough, balm ointments, tooth pastes, cosmetics and is even utilized to produce excellent quality paper. The plant is, therefore, being put to almost every conceivable usage possible.

Though it puts the worry of having a renewable source of energy at hands to a back burner, yet it requires to be nurtured and cared for to allow for a healthy plant development. And it has been observed that the jatropha curcas plants tax our water resources. So, they are grown in locations with plenty of rains. This cuts the burden on the water resources, allows water preservation and human effort too. Because the irrigation investment is just one time cost of time, cash, effort and resources, it is being accepted as a sustainable alternative worldwide.

But it is not all goodie - goodie about the plant. The jatropha curcas plant has hazardous content. It has lectin, saponin, phorbol, toxalbumin curcin and is a trypsin inhibitor. In easy words, it can be hazardous and in extreme conditions, even fatal to consume without treatment plant. The seeds have to be correctly roasted and dealt with before being used in any consumable use. Since it has become practical to deal with the poisonous content, the plant consumption has actually likewise been rising. To meet the increasing needs, the plant needs to be grown through numerous scientific techniques like in-vitro and ex-vitro propagation. This permits fast growth and for establishing disease and pest resistant ranges of the plant. And a healthy crop will suggest more fuel and much better environment on the whole.

It is in our hands to reside in consistency with the nature, and it is our choices that figure out the result of the interaction we have with the nature. If we choose environment friendly products, we improve our lives. So, picking jatropha curcas can be the initial step in enhancing the wealth called environment.